Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 15401

The 15401 zip code area in Pennsylvania is home to two middle schools: Laurel Highlands Middle School and Lafayette Middle School. While both schools serve grades 6-8, they exhibit notable differences in their student populations, academic performance, and resource allocation.

Laurel Highlands Middle School, the larger of the two with 634 students, generally outperforms Lafayette Middle School in academic measures. Laurel Highlands has slightly higher state-wide rankings, better test scores in both Math and English Language Arts, and a lower free/reduced lunch rate of 49.21% compared to 100% at Lafayette. However, both schools' test scores remain below the state averages.

In contrast, Lafayette Middle School faces significant challenges, with much lower test scores and a 100% free/reduced lunch rate, indicating a high-poverty student population. Despite higher spending per student at $18,875 compared to $16,269 at Laurel Highlands Middle School, Lafayette's academic performance remains significantly behind. This suggests the need for a closer examination of resource allocation and support systems to address the unique needs of the school's student population.